black bear, Ursus americanusalso called American Bear (Ursus americanus), bearthe most common bear (family Ursidae)that inhabits , found in the forests of North America, including parts of Mexico. The American black bear constitutes consists of only one species, but several colour morphs occur, its colour varies, even among members of the same litter. White markings may occur on the chest, sometimes in the shape of a V. Depending on their colour variations, black bears are often referred to as the cinnamon bearbears, blue-gray or blue-black glacier bearbears, and the Kermode Island white bear, a rare white phase that occurs on the Kermode Islands of British Columbiawhite bears (found mainly on Princess Royal Island, British Columbia). Black bears are highly adaptable and adapt readily to anthropogenic food sources such as garbage, and handouts given by tourists in parks. Encounters between humans and black bears occasionally end in tragedy, and black bears attacks on humans, fatal or not, are so well publicized that many humans display a chronic fear of black bearsthat are actually brown in colour are most common in western North America. They are sometimes called brown bears, but the true brown bear (Ursus arctos; also called the grizzly bear in North America) is much larger.

The black bear is a large , and stocky animal with and has a short tail, plantigrade feet, and non-retractile claws. . Adults range from 1.5 to 1.8 metres (5 to 6 feet) in length and weigh 90–270 kg (200–600 pounds). Males can be up to 70 percent heavier than females. The head is small , but is supported by a strong neck. The ears are small and rounded. Some animals possess white markings on the chest, sometimes in the shape of a "V". Males are typically 10-70% heavier than females. Adults range from 150 to 180 cm (about 5 to 6 feet) in length and weigh 90–270 kg (200–600 pounds).Black The curved claws are nonretractile, and, unlike cats and dogs, bears walk on the soles of their feet (plantigrade locomotion).

Though classified as carnivores, black bears have an omnivorous dietcentered on vegetation. In spring , they consume emerging plants and animals carcasses, whereas fruits carcasses of animals that have died during the winter. Fruits dominate the diet in summer, and both fruit and mast, especially acorns and beechnuts, dominate constitute most of the fall dietin the fall. Black bears are opportunistic and . As opportunistic feeders, black bears will also eat pine conespinecones, roots, ants, and honey from wild or domestic bees, and even refuse from garbage dumps or campsites. Black . Nonetheless, black bears are also strong predators, and in some areas they frequently kill moose calves and deer fawns during spring. Through Black bears living near humans adapt readily to alternate food sources, such as garbage from dumps or campsites and handouts from tourists in parks. Human encounters with black bears occasionally result in injury or death, and attacks are reported every year. In almost all cases, avoiding surprise encounters is the best defense, as black bears prefer to avoid people.

Throughout most of their range, black bears become dormant during winter. Black bears They spend the winter in dens located in rock crevices, in rocks, underground burrows, under trees tree roots, in hollow trees, in brush piles, or simply on open-ground beds. Prior to winter sleep, bears must accumulate large quantities of body fat during late summer and fall. This enables them not only Not only does this enable them to survive the long period of winter fastingduring winter, but it also allows them to have sufficient energy to survive in spring when they emerge in spring and food is rare. For females, the amount of fat stored before winter is linked with reproductive success: fatter females typically have more young and bigger young than do leaner females. Accumulating fat for the winter is thus a strong drive, and explain it explains the constant search for food of bears during through the summer and fall.

Breeding occurs Black bears are not territorial; they are mostly solitary, and the home ranges of both males and females may overlap. Home ranges typically are larger where food is less abundant and smaller where food is plentiful. Throughout Canada and the United States, home ranges of black bears extend from about 40 to 200 square km (15 to 77 square miles) for males but are considerably smaller for females. Breeding begins in the spring and peaks during June and July. Black bear bears are promiscuous, so both males and females may mate often mating with several individuals. Implantation of the fertilized egg is delayed, and occurs occurring in November -or December. Actual gestation then lasts 60-70 60–70 days, and one to four young cubs are born in January or February. Young bears are born Born blind, fully furred, and toothless. Young , the cubs remain with the mother for 16 months, and the female breeds every second or third year.

Black bears are not territorial, and home ranges of both males and females overlap. Home ranges typically are larger when food is less abundant, and smaller where food is abundant. Through Canada and the USA, home ranges of black bears ranges from 40-200 km2 for males and 10-50 km2 for females.

Black bears are mostly solitary. In natural habitats, black bears are diurnal. However, in areas of high human activity such as dumps and campsites, black bears often become nocturnal to avoid encounters with humans. Black bears are few natural predators, but Although the mother is very protective of her litter, young cubs may be killed by coyotes, wolves, brown bears, or by other black bears. However, Black bears can live for more than 20 years in the wild, but in areas near human habitation most black bears die of human induced mortality by sooner as a result of hunting, trapping, poaching, nuisance removal near campgrounds or dumps, or and collision with vehicles.Black bears can live up to 23 years in the wild.

The black bear may be tamed and taught various tricks, and is often present in circuses. In the wildIn natural habitats, black bears are active during the day. However, in areas of high human activity such as dumps and campsites, black bears often become nocturnal to avoid encounters with humans. Even so, black bears habituate quickly to handouts given by tourists, and this lack of fear of humans often leads to conflicts. In parks, human-habituated bears often must be killed as they become hazardous around campsites. Not feeding wild black bears is thus therefore better for both humans and bears. Black bears are also strong predators, and attacks on humans, fatal or not, are reported each year. In almost all cases, avoiding surprise encounters is the best defense.

Other similar species of bears that are black in colour are Asiatic black bear; sloth bear.

Word count: 756Target: 750

Revised by:

Serge Larivière, Ph.D.

Delta Waterfowl Foundation

R.R. #1, Box 1

Portage La Prairie, Manitoba

Canada, R1N 3A1

Ph. (204) 239-1900

Fax (204) 239-5950

Email: slariviere@deltawaterfowl.org

Date of submission: 17 February 2002

Bibliography

S. Larivière. “Ursus americanus” Mammalian Species, 647:1-11 (2001).

R.M. Nowak. Walker’s Mammals of the World. John Hopkins, London (1999)

D.E. Wilson and F.R. Cole. Common names of mammals of the world. Smithsonian Institution Press, (2000).